Smuravyevo

Smuravyevo (Russian: Смуравьёво) (also Gdov or Smurav'yevo) was a base of the Russian Airforce and former Closed city in Pskov Oblast, Russia

Smuravyevo

Смуравьёво
Summary
Airport typeMilitary
OperatorRussian Air Force
LocationGdov
Elevation AMSL200 ft / 61 m
Coordinates58°48′54″N 028°0′48″E
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
16/34 8,202 2,500 Concrete

Location

Town is located 14 km northeast of Gdov. This medium-sized base is located 63 km south of Ivangorod and 200 km (120 mi) from Saint Petersburg.

History

The symbol of the town was a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21, on a plinth, and the base was home to the 722nd Bomber Aviation Regiment (722 BAP) flying Sukhoi Su-24 aircraft. It was part of the 6th Air and Air Defence Forces Army during collapse of Soviet Union until towns closure.[1] In 1994 many servicemen and pilots were resettled here from the units located previously in East Germany. The town's population at the time was about 4000 residents.[2]

Circa 2010 the base was closed.[3]

Closure of town and airport

Town and airport were closed during the 2008 reforms implemented by then defence minister Anatoliy Serdyukov. Locals did not welcome this change since the closure of the airport left hundreds unemployed without suitable alternatives. The gas supply for residents was cut off and the town was left crumbling. Firewood is currently used but it is an outdated and expensive option, partially due to the condition of heating systems. In 2020, the head of local municipal services Aleksandr Moyseyev, stated that the buildings are completely worn out and half of the town's residents are military retirees. Also, the water systems are in bad shape, as locals are already living without reliable water supply, and the local water tower has been nicknamed as "The leaning tower of Pisa". If the tower collapses, the town would also lose the water supply. The water quality has already declined to the undrinkable level so locals are forced to get their drinking water from the spring located 1,5 km outside of the town in a village called Lyubimets.

In the area between residential buildings and airfield, they were building a school. When the military left the town, 2 out of 3 floors in school were finished. Looters have been demolishing the building and according to the local residents, its state is so bad that it is a suitable place to make a film about war in Syria or some other conflict. [4]

gollark: I had to restart it to link apionet on [REDACTED].
gollark: Apiaries online?
gollark: Hello, citronous form.
gollark: Yep!
gollark: The bridge is now maybe up.

References
  1. https://et.public-welfare.com/3905859-6th-army-air-force-and-air-defense-description-structure-functions-and-objectives
  2. Butowski, Pyotr (2004). Air Power Analysis: Russian Federation. AIRtime Publishing, Inc.
  3. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-pskov-military-base-ruins/30665482.html
  4. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-pskov-military-base-ruins/30665482.html


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